Axial Biotherapeutics, a biotechnology company building microbial-targeted therapeutics for neurological diseases, has announced that Srinivas Rao, M.D. '98, Ph.D. '00, has joined Axial Biotherapeutics as its chief medical officer (CMO). With his broad expertise in developing therapeutics for neurological indications, he will oversee Axial’s clinical development and regulatory strategy as the company prepares to enter the clinic with its first program.
Rao joins Axial Biotherapeutics with more than 17 years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Most recently, he served as senior vice president and CMO at DepoMed, Inc., where he oversaw the company’s clinical and regulatory development activities. He was responsible for designing and implementing the development program for DepoMed’s next generation analgesic, cebranopadol. Prior to this, Rao was the founder and CEO of Kyalin Biosciences, a privately held biotechnology company developing a potential breakthrough therapy for autism. Before joining Kyalin, Rao served as CMO and chief scientific officer (CSO) of three companies through his association with Avalon Ventures.
Srinivas Rao, M.D. '98, Ph.D. '00
Rao received his Ph.D. in neurobiology Yale and his M.D. from Yale. He holds a bachelor of science and a master of science degree in electrical engineering from Yale.